Band dispenser



May 6, 1958 M. B. HALL v 2,833,489

` BAND DISPENSER Filed May 14, 195:5 2 sheets-sheet 1 IEN i M. B. HALL BAND DISPENSER May 6, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed; May 14, 1953 BAND DISPENSER Application May 14, 1953, Serial No. 354,960

12 Claims. (Cl. 24278.7)

This invention relates to improvements in a bandy dispenser and its purpose is to provide a'novel form of apparatus for dispensing a metal band, such as flexible steel strapping, during the operation of applying it around a box, package or the like.

Flexible metal strapping, such as that employed in the binding of boxes and the like, is commonly supplied to the consumer in heavy coils made up of a considerable number of convolutions of helically wound layers and it is desirable to provide means for facilitating the withdrawal of the strapping-from such a coil as it is being used in order to reduce the labor required of the operator and to expedite the binding operation.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide dispensing apparatus comprising means for permitting the strapping to be withdrawn at a variety of locations whereby the binding material may be readily applied to packages or the like'of various shapes and sizes. Another object of the invention is to provide a band dispenser having power operated means for unwinding the binding material and delivering it to the place of use. A further object of the invention is to provide dispensing apparatus comprising an adjustable ydelivery arm over which the binding material is delivered to the desired location. Still another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device having improved means for supporting the coil and permitting the rotation thereof as the binding material is withdrawn therefrom. Another object is to provide dispensing apparatus comprising power actuated feeding means for withdrawing binding material from a coil and moving it to a delivery arm which may be adjusted to a plurality of positions and which carries means for controlling the operation of said feeding means. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement which willappear more fully hereinafter.

The nature of this invention will be understood from the following specication taken with the accompanying drawingsl in' which one embodiment is illustrated. In the drawings,

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the improved band dispenser;

Fig. 2 shows a 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 shows an end elevation of the band dispenser illustrated in Fig. 1, looking toward the left as viewed in Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged section taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

As illustrated in the drawings, the invention comprises partial horizontal section on the line a framer having a pair of side plates 11 which are secured together and spaced apart. This frame is supported by three casters 12, each having a roller 12a adapted to rest upon the Hoor orother support. Twoof the casters 1 2 are mounted at the .ends of tubular extenf sions 13 of the frame which extend laterally from the forward lower rcorners of the side plates 11. The third caster is mounted. between the side plates 11 at their rear States Patent l ice lower extremities so that the :frame 10 has a three-point support on the three rollers 12a which are a-dapted to swing about the vertical axes of the casters. Mounted between the lower parts of the side plates 11 are two rollers 14 carried by pins 14a secured in the side plates and these rollers are adapted to support a coil 15 of the llexible binding material which is to be dispensed by the apparatus. Another roller 16 is mounted between the upper forward parts of the side plates 11 on a pin 16a and this roller is adapted to engage the forwardperipheral surface of the coil 15 when this coil is inserted between the side plates 11 and supported by the rollers 14. Each side plate 11 is also provided with a pair of radial slots 11a in each of which there is mounted a cylindrical roller 17 carried by pivot pins 17a which are journaled in brackets 18 carried by the side plates at the ends of the slots. These rollers 17 are preferably located opposite each other in pairs in the two side plates 11 and they are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the normal width of the coil 11 so that the coil may rotate freely between them on the Vrollers 14 but will be restrained by these rollers 17 fromcontacting the inner surfaces of the side plates. In this way, a coil 15 may be readily inserted between the side plates and mounted for rotation on the rollers 14 Where it is supported by its external peripheral surface during the operation of rotating the coil and withdrawing the strip material therefrom.

There is also preferably provided a retaining roller 20 which is mounted to revolve on a pin orbolt 21 extending between two arms 22 from which it is spaced by sleeves 23. These arms are pivotally mounted in apertures 11b in the side plates 11 by means of pins 24, as shown particularly in Fig. 2, and the roller 20 is thus pivotally mounted so that it rests upon the surface of the coil 15 at the forward side of the apparatus, thereby retaining the coil in position on the rollers 14 as the coil revolves. The arms 22 are adapted to be adjustably secured in ditferent positions in order to regulate the position of the roller 20 in accordance with the diameter of the coil 15 as the material wound in the coil is used and to accommodate -dilerent initial sizes of the coils of material which are employed in the apparatus. For this purpose, one of the arms 22 has secured therein a tubular barrel 25 in which there is mounted a plunger 26 having a head 26a adapted to engage any one of a series of apertures 11e which are formed in the adjacent side plate 11. A coil spring 27 is mounted in the barrel around the stem of the plunger 26 so that it normally holds the head 26a in engagement with the registering aperture 11c. The plunger 26 has a knurled handle 28 which may be engaged by the fingers of the operator for withdrawing the plunger against the compression of the spring 27 when it t is desired to adjust the roller 20 to a new position or to swing in upwardly into the retractive position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The strip steel or other iiexible binding material 15a which forms the coil 15 is adapted to be withdrawn from the coil through a tubular guide channel 30 having flared upper and lower walls 39a which are located adjacent to the peripheral surface of the largest coil which is capable of use in the apparatus. The binding material is adaptedv to be withdrawn from the coil through the, guide channel 30 by means of a pair of feed rolls 31 and 32 which are mounted between the upper forward portions of the side plates `11. The lower roll 31 is mounted upon the inwardly projecting shaft of a speed reducer 53 which is fixed on one of the side plates 11 and this speed reducer is driven by an electric motor 34 which is attached to the speed reducer and to the adjacent side plate. When the motor 34 is operated to rotate the roll 31 in the direction of the arrow 35, the strip material 15a is withdrawn from the coil and is moved between the rollers 31 and 32` into another tubular guide channel 36 mounted between the upper forward'extremitics of the side plates 11 as shown in Fig. 4.

The upper roll 32` operates as an idler roll and rests by gravity on the strip material 15a passing from the guide channel 30 to the guide channel 36, being rotated by the movement ofthe strip material. The roller 32 is mounted on a shaft. 37 which, in turn, is located eccentrically in bearing members 38 mounted t-o revolve in apertures 11d formed in the upward extensions 11e of the side frames. The eccentric bearing members 38 are adapted to be revolved in their bearings by a handle 39 which is `normally held by a coil spring 40 in the position shown in Fig.` 4 wherein the roller 32 will contact the uppersurface of the strip material being withdrawn from the coil. When it is` desired to thread a new section of the strip material through the guide channels and between the rolls 31 and 32, the upper roll 3,2 may be elevated by rotating the handle 39 against the tension of the spring 40. The strip -material 15a which is fed by the rolls 31 and 32 into the guide channel 36 passes out through the enlarged exit passage 36a of this guide channel and then into a guide channel 42ay formed in a pivoted delivery arm 42. Thisdelivery arm preferably has the channel shaped cross section shown in Fig. 3 with overhanging side flanges 42b` and it comprises a pair of angular plates by the engagement of the downwardly inclined portions 42d of the plates 42C with blocks 44 which are secured to the outer faces of the side plates 11. `The delivery arm 42 is thus capable of being swung in a vertical plane through a considerable amplitude so that the strip material 15a may be discharged from the outer end of the arm 42 in the position which is most convenient for applying the material 15a to the package or other object to be bound.

The electric motor 34 is adapted to be actuated by an electric circuit comprising a llexible cable 45 having a pair fof electric conductors connected to a plug46 through which a connection may be made with the ordinary electriecircuit. The circuit of the motor 34 is controlled by connections Awhich are made `through another flexible cable 47 comprising a pair of conductors extending to a trigger-type switch 48 mounted on the under side of the outer end `of the delivery arm 42. The control switch having the Vfinger operated trigger 48a is thus located in a convenient positions that the operator may control the feed `of the binding material Iby the motor driven rolls 31 and 32 by the same hand which swings the` delivery arm 42 `about -in order to bring the discharge end of this` arm into the desired location with respect to the package or other object being bound. t

Although one form of the invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, it will be understood that it may be constructed in various other embodiments which come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l-. A dispenser of the type described, comprising a frame, a plurality of wheels mounted on said frame to Ysupport `said frame for ready movement to a desired point of operation, means on said frame for supporting a Coil of binding material, delivery means on said frame comprising a delivery arm through which said material may be moved to different locations, motor driven means on said frame for withdrawing material from said coil and moving it through said delivery means, and means positionedon said delivery arm for controlling the operation` of said motor driven means.

2. A dispenser of `the `type described, comprising a.

frame, a plurality of wheels mounted on said frame to support said frame for ready movement to a desired point of operation means on said frame for supporting a coil of binding material, a pivoted rigid delivery arm of substantial length over which said material may be moved mounted on said frame, motor driven means mounted on said frame for withdrawing said material from said coil and moving it over said arm, and means mounted on said arm for controlling the operation of said motor driven means.

3. A dispenser of the type described, comprising means for supporting a coil of binding material, means including a motor driven roll for withdrawing material from said coil, a pivotally mounted delivery arm having a channel through whichv said material withdrawn from said coil is discharged, and a circuit for said motor having a control switch mounted on the discharge end of said arm.-

Y 4. A dispenser for delivering ilat metal strapping comprising a pair of spaced vertical side plates, means for supporting a coil of said strapping between said side plates to permit the unwinding thereof, a pair of rolls arranged to engage opposite sides of a portion of said strapping withdrawn from said coil, a motor for driving one of said rolls to withdraw the strapping from said coil, a pair of tubular guides carried in fixed position by said side plates for guiding said strapping in advance of and following said rolls, and a rigid delivery guide pivoted on said side plates for receiving said strapping from one of said firstnamed guides and delivering it to different locations.

5. A dispenser of the type described, comprising a frame, a plurality of wheels mounted on said frame to support said frame for ready movement to a desired point of operation, rollers carried by said frame for engaging the peripheral surface and the lateral sides of a coil of binding material and thereby supporting said coil for rotation, means carried by said frame for withdrawing material from `said coil, and a movable delivery device pivoted on said frame and arranged to receive said material from said last named means and to deliver it to different locations.

6. A dispenser for delivering at metal strapping comprising a pair of spaced vertical side plates, means for supporting a coil of said strapping between said side plates to permit the unwinding thereof, a pair of rolls arranged to engage opposite sides of a portion of said strapping withdrawn from said coil, a motor for driving one of said rolls to withdraw the strapping from said coil, a` pair of tubular guides carried in xed position by said guide plates for guiding said strapping in advance of and following said rolls, a rigid delivery guide pivoted on said guide plates for receiving said strapping from one of said f first named guides and delivering it to different locations,

anielectric circuit for actuating said motor, and a control switch connected in said circuit and mounted. on the discharge end of said delivery guide for actuation by the hand of the operator which moves said delivery guide to -`"1 diierent locations.

a 7. A portable dispenser for ilexible steel strapping com prising a pair of upstanding spaced apart side plates interconnected to provide a frame, a plurality of wheels mounted on said frame to support the frame for easy portability, a pair of horizontally disposed support rollers mounted on `said side plates adjacent the lower edge thereof to support a coil of steel strapping on the periphery thereof, means to pull strapping fromthe periphery of the coil to rotate thecoil onv said rollers andtodispense the strapping forwardly of said dispenser, a horizontally dis posed abutment roller mounted on said side plates adjacent the forward edge thereof to contact and restrain the coil at a point above the center thereof, and a retaining roller mounted on said side plates adjacent the rear end thereof to contact the periphery of the coil above the center thereofpositively to retain the coil on said dis"4 penser in cooperation with said support rollers and said abutment roller during movement of said dispenser.

8. A portable dispenser as set forth in claim 7, wherein the retaining roller is adjustable with respect to the side plates to facilitate mounting of coils on the dispenser and to accommodate different sizes of coils.

9. A portable dispenser as set forth in claim 7, wherein the retaining roller is mounted on a pair of arms, said arms being pivoted on the side plates, and latch mechanism to lock said arms and said retaining roller in one of several adjusted positions to accommodate different sizes of coils.

10. A portable dispenser as set forth in claim 7, wherein three support Wheels are provided, one of said wheels being swivelly mounted at the rear end of said plates, a pair of laterally disposed extensions mounted on said side plates adjacent the forward ends thereof and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, the other wheels being swivelly mounted on theends of said extensions to provide lateral stability for the dispenser.

11. A portable dispenser as set forth in claim 7, wherein a plurality of side rollers are mounted on the side plates to engage and to guide the sides of the coil during rotation thereof on the dispenser.

12. A portable dispenser for flexible steel strapping comprising a pair of upstanding spaced apart side plates interconnected to provide a frame, a plurality of wheels mounted on said frame to support the frame for easy portability, a pair or horizontally disposed support rollers mounted on said side plates adjacent the lower edge thereof to support a coil of steel strapping on the periphery thereof, a delivery arm mounted on said side plates adjacent the forward edges thereof, said delivery arm serving to guide strapping from the coil to different locations, motor driven means mounted on said side plates for withdrawing strapping from the coil and moving it through the delivery arm, a control member mounted on the outer end of said delivery arm tocontrol the operation of said motor driven means, a horizontally disposed abutment roller mounted on said side plates adjacent the forward edge thereof to contact and restrain the coil at a point above the center thereof, and a retaining roller mounted on said side plates adjacent the rear end thereof to contact the periphery of the coil above the center thereof positively to retain the coil on said dispenser in cooperation With said support rollers and said abutment roller during movement of said dispenser.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 293,632 Cobb Feb. 19, 1884 1,019,419 Bowdle Mar. 5, 1912 1,038,093 Crawford Sept. l0, 1912 1,235,805 Jennings Aug. 7, 1917 1,581,171 Bushman Apr. 20, 1926 1,826,495 Beck Oct. 6, 1931 2,111,054 Paul Mar. 15, 1938 2,178,212 Schellenger Oct. 31, 1939 2,227,387 Borton Dec. 31, 1940 2,506,354 Green May 2, 1950 2,512,324 Hall June 20, 1950 2,558,788 Sillars July 3, 1951 2,561,462 Compton et al July 24, 1951 

